Nexit or Frexit? British vote fires up 'eurosceptics'

Friday, June 24, 2016 - 01:34

Britain's vote to leave the European Union fires up populist eurosceptic parties in France, the Netherlands and across the continent, giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its euro currency. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Now that Brexit is over -- what's next for Europe?
How about 'Nexit'? Or 'Frexit'?
That's what nationalist leaders from the Netherlands and France are calling their OWN hoped-for referendums to leave the 28-nation European bloc.
France's far-right Marine Le Pen calls Britain's historic vote a "rebirth", and hopes it'll boost her eurosceptive agenda at home where she's a frontrunner in next year's presidential election.
(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FAR-RIGHT PARTY NATIONAL FRONT LEADER, MARINE LE PEN, SAYING:
"For all the patriots, for all the those who love freedom, this day is one of joy. It is not Europe which has died, it's the European Union which is shaking."
Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Austria and Germany are stepping up the pressure to hold their own votes to exit the bloc or drop its currency.
Like leader of the Alternative for Germany party, Alexander Gauland:
(SOUNDBITE) (German) DEPUTY HEAD OF 'ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY' (AFD), ALEXANDER GAULAND, SAYING:
"I think it is good that they have done this. Existential questions SHOULD be presented to the people."
… an existential question for the very IDEA of a common Europe, says Dutch anti-immigrant party chief Geert Wilders.
SOUNDBITE) (English) PVV PARTY LEADER GEERT WILDERS SAYING:
"There is no future for the European Union, that is my honest answer to you. The European Union is failed project."
Britain's vote has populist eurosceptic parties across the continent fired up … and prompted some in the bloc to call it a warning sign of things to come.

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